Vale, NC- - On Thursday evening, July 30th, Relay for Life team members, committee members and volunteers came together for ice cream and cake at Woodmill Winery in Vale to wrap-up the 2009 Relay for Life campaign so that the 2010 Campaign can get started in September.
The 2009 Relay for Life this year was a little different than those in the past. The Lincolnton and East Lincoln events were both held on the same Saturday and were a one-day event unlike the previous practice of a 2-day event and overnight campaign.
Early on the teams and volunteers had prepared themselves for the hard work ahead. With the downturn in the economy, they knew up front that their work was going to be more difficult than in the past.
One volunteer told the Tribune, “We knew it was going to be more difficult this year and therefore began planning, seeking new fund-raising ideas and began working very early.”
(Photo: Relay for Life Director Cheryl Burgess receives recognition from John Dancoff at WoodMill Winery last week for her work with Relay for Life. Photo by Melany Dawn Crouse.)
Cheryl Burgess, 2009 Director reported, “As of July 30, 2009, the Lincolnton event has raised $ 117,508 with the East Lincoln event having a total of $103,825 for a combined total for Lincoln County of $221,333 to date.”
The fiscal year officially ends on August 31st so donations can continue until then. Anyone wishing to make a donation on or before August 31st is asked to turn monies in at People’s Bank in Lincolnton.
Nora Gilbert and Janice Sain with the Union and North Brook Elementary School teams told the Tribune, “With the growing concern of the economy, we knew that we must be creative.”
They came together planned and got right to work with selling Survivor T-Shirts, Penny Wars, sold tapes with children’s songs but one of their best fund raisers was their “Links of Love” campaign. Ms. Sain said, “This was a great way for the students to be involved in helping others and at the same time had loads of fun.”
In addressing the group, Ms. Burgess reported that this had been a great year for NC and especially for Lincoln County. Lincolnton had 48 teams and East Lincoln had around 35 teams and 311 registered survivors. Among those teams were 19 churches, 12 schools and 34 corporate sponsors.
The top ten teams from Lincolnton were: People’s Bank, Love Memorial Elementary School, Rhyne Financial, North Brook Elementary, Marvin United Methodist, Salem Lutheran, West Lincoln High, S. Ray Lowder Elementary, CMC-Lincoln, Providence Missionary Baptist Church.
The East Lincoln top ten teams were: Fishing for a Cure, Pearl Baptist Church, Webb’s Chapel Church, Catawba Springs Elementary, East Lincoln Middle, Rock Springs Elementary, St. James Elementary, Team Sailview, CareMor Pharmacy, Iron Station Elementary.
Craig Brice, East Lincoln and John Dancoff, Lincolnton have been named the 2010 Event Chairmen. Relay 2010 is already on its way to a successful year with planning and meetings having already begun --information will be coming soon.
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By Beth Saine
